| |
You are here: Experts > Home/Garden > Home Improvement/Repair > Home Improvement--General > Sagging window frames
Expert: Donald Bosch - 10/25/2009
Question
I have a very old house that the state put vinyl siding on and replaced the windows with plastic tilt-in-for-cleaning style windows. The state did it as a HUD project many years ago so as you can guess they did the work as cheaply as possible. For example, the vinyl siding is loosely attached to the existing wooden siding. Ok, the problem, the windows in my laundry room open horizontally instead of vertically. (see image) I'm not sure if just the bottom of the frame is sagging or if the whole thing has shifted but most of the windows are cracked diagonally on the outside glass pane and the worst one cannot even be closed properly and doesn't come close to being able to be locked. The two sides of the lock are about 3/4" from being closed completely and at least a half inch from lining up vertically. I attached an image showing this, my windows have mirror tint on them which actually helps show all of the latch. I just wanted to let you know that so the image wouldn't confuse you. If i open both sides of the window half way so that they are both in the middle of the frame the windows will just fall out. I'm assuming that the wood wall under the window must be rotten causing the frame to sag. I am very new to this remodeling thing and am still learning but i try hard and have basic understanding. Just bear with my ignorance please. If that's correct do I take down the wall from the inside of the house or the outside to be able to get at the problem? Please give as many details as possible for a step by step repair assuming that I know very little contractor lingo (as if you couldn't tell that already). Thank you so much for your help!
Answer
Hi Jessie,
Sorry for the delay, I was setting up a new computer and things got out of hand.
Having said that, your problem may be a bigger one than you think. Windows that are unable to open in this manner basically indicate an underlying problem with the walls and the structure, as you may have already imagined.
I would carefully check the worst window by opening up the wall and looking at the structure underneath the window to see if rot is a factor.
I don't have enough details about the house and the location to tell you what may have caused this shifting and sagging, but you will indeed need to open up the wall to see why the windows are sagging.
Is this something you want to undertake yourself? Perhaps, but you might be opening up a can of worms, and I need to warn you about that. If the whole house is shifting and moving, then most of the windows will be affected. When glass cracks and windows shift, it is usually a structural problem.
I would get a professional to come over to analyze this further before you start opening up walls.
regards,
Don.
Add to this Answer Ask a Question
|
|
)